The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1887-08-06

no ponderous gates of iron, no deep moat
filed with water, no bridge that can be
drawn at night or in times of danger, no
protected place in which armed sentinels
can stand, no alarm-bell for calling assist
ance. A farmhouse generally stands at
quite distance from other dwellings. 1t
is not constructed with view Of atfording
security to life and property against rob
beers or assassins. 1t is ordinarily built Of
wood, and has numerous doors and win
dows that are easily opened from the out
side. 1t rarely ever contains a hire and
burglar proof vault or safe. 1t is not pro
vided with means for summoning assist
ance. No person is employed to watch it
while the members of the family are asleep.
A dog may be kept for the purpose of Civ
ing an alarm in case strangers approach IN
the night, but the chances are that the
creature banks so often and on such slight
provocation that the inmates Of the house,
if they are sound sleepers, are not aroused
by its barking in times of danger.
Such building is not fit depository
for valuables of any kind. 1t is liable to
be burned down, and can be easily entered
by anyone who has the courage and dispo-
sirion to do so. As rule, it is senseless
to offer resistance. Surprising that there
are firearms in the house, the chances arc
that they can not be effectually used.
Persons who are aroused from deep sleep
by burglars are not in condition to fire
rifles and revolyers. They will be dazed,
while their unwelcome visitors will be ac-
tive and on the lookout. A motion or a
noise on the part of the sleepers will be
almost sure to bring the burglars to their
sides, when the pistol, dirk, or gag will be
used. The cases of torturing persons In
farm houses with a view of making them
disclose where money and other valuables
are secreted are numerous. In repeated
cases robbers after plundoring house and
tying its inmates have set it on fire, WITH
the intention of destroying all evidence of
their crimes. The instances where the in
mates of farmhouse have been able to
defend themselves against determined burg
lars, to shoot them, or to brighten them
away are exceedingly rare.
Every year when the time arrives for
starting fires in stoves outside the kitchen
we hear of large quantities of bank bills,
deposited in stove-pipes and ovens, being
destroyed. They were placed in these re-
ceptacles for safe keeping by some member
of the family, who neglected to inform the
others, or who at the time of lighting
the fire forgot aboutit. The grain-bin and
corn-crib are sometimes used as depositor-
les of the money saved by farmers. They
often serve useful purpose, but occasion
ally the money is dcvoured by farm ami
mails or vermin, or is hauled off to market
with the grain, The practice Of burying
money in the cellar or gardener of secret
ing it in some crevice between the walls
and plastering of the house is far more
common. In some cases the money Is Sc
creted so well that it is never found by the
person who hid it, or by his relatives for
whom it was saved. Sudden death, mental
arrangement, or loss of memory may pre-
vent the treasure from being found. In
many old country towns there are legends
about money that was lost in this way. In
case fire occurs in dwelling, the money
secreted in it is generally consumed.
That farmhouse is very unsuitable
place for keeping money, and that its pres
ence there serves to invite burglars, must
be admitted. 1t is by no means strange
that farmers have become suspicious of
crossroads banks, that have little or no
capital, whose directors are irresponsible
and whose officials are of questionable in
tegrity. But there is scarcely county in
the country that does not contain at least
one reliable bank There is no consider
able city in which there is not bank that
enjoys the confidence of the business men
of the community. If it is not ccQvenient
for a man living in the country to make
deposits in this bank personally, it costs
but trife to send money to it by express
The express company is responsible. 9pld
hanks will forward receipts for money re
celved by the express agents. Besides the
banks there are now safe repositories in
nearly all large cities, where patrons can
place money, papers, and other valuables
in private boxes of which they hold the
keys. If they do not afford absolute secu
rity, they furnish the nearest approach te
it that human wisdom, skill, and ingenui-
ty can suggest.